CBA Playoffs: Guangdong routs Shenzhen with 4-0 into final

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Guangdong has stormed into the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Playoff finals after sweeping their best of seven semi-final series 4-0 against Shenzhen.

The South China side's fourth win in as many games against a hapless Shenzhen came on the road when veteran Yi Jianlian stole the show with 37 points and 17 rebounds in his side's 135-117 victory on Monday night.

Earlier, Shenzhen started strong with their backs against the wall at home. A 3-pointer by Dwight Buycks put the Leopards in front by four midway through the first quarter.

Guangdong, however, went ahead as MarShon Brooks found Yi for the dunk. The Southern Tigers began to pull away as Zhao Rui went up and under in the second.

A few minutes later, Brooks tried to connect with Yi for an alley-oop, but Shen Zijie tapped the ball to Kenny Boynton, who took it the other way to lay in two of his team-high 28 points.

The eight-time champions continued to push as Yi went to the rack for the jam and-one.

After half-time, Brooks decided not to hand off to Sonny Weems and kept the ball himself before pulling up for three from the top of the key. Guangdong's late-season addition scored 23.

Shenzhen's retiring veterans Qiu Biao and Zhang Kai came on as late substitutions and the game was destined to be the last game of their respective careers.

A pass from Buycks was stolen by Zhao, who went in the opposite direction for the hoop and the harm with less than 40 seconds left. The Southern Tigers held on to their lead and won by 18 points to clinch their record-extending 14th trip to the CBA Finals.

"I did not coach the team last season, but now I have come back, and taken the squad to the CBA Finals again. This is what our players and organization have worked so hard to do, and I think we will have more difficult games in the next series, but we are ready to take on a new challenge,” said Du Feng, head coach of Guangdong after his side's memorable win.